5 tips on pruning fruit trees

The art of pruning is important for the health and longevity
of a fruit tree. Though a lot can be said about it, here I only want to give
some basic tips that are easy to follow.

1. Keep in mind that by cutting of a branch, one creates a
wound. This wound is a new entrance way for infectious diseases, which can
cause a lot of harm to the tree. This means that it is important to make a good
cut, in a way that the tree can protect itself for further damage. (Also modern
science starts to understand now that plants and animals have many similar
physiological working mechanisms, like protection against disease through
circulation, antibodies…)

2. Cells which are capable of producing healing tissue are
situated exactly at the junction of a branch to its parent limb. You want to
save this tissue, so do not cut so short that you remove this tissue. But at
the same time do not cut too far away from the junction otherwise the healing
cells will not border the rim of the cut and will not be able to do anything
and an open wound will always remain (see photo for the right distance).

3. The smaller the surface of the cut, the smaller the entry
way for disease is and the smaller the surface is that the tree has to heal.
Try to cut in the angle that results in the smallest surface possible.

4. Use sharp tools, so cuts will be straight and smooth.
This makes healing easier.

5. When to prune? Different references will advise different
moments for when to prune a tree. Most say that it should be done in the
‘dormant’ months, when no infective diseases are active, being November through
March. Others advise that one should prune when the circulation of the tree is
in full action, so defense mechanisms can protect and heal the created wound as
fast as possible. Both theories carry parts of truth and wisdom, so it remains
hard to point to the ultimate moment. I always keep following rule in mind:
“better a good cut in the wrong season then a wrong cut in the right season.”